TRAVEL NEWS

You don't have to settle for Chicago. Seek out one of these other ten Great Lakes destinations in the U.S.

In many ways, the Great Lakes are one of America’s best-kept secrets. The five massive bodies of water sit in the heart of the upper Midwest, and are considered to be the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. Still, for as great as they are, they don’t always attract a lot of tourism from people outside the Midwest, despite their many attractions, tourist towns, and beautiful wildlife. In fact, for many Americans, the closest they’ll ever get to a Great Lake is a visit to Chicago, which sits on the shores of Lake Michigan. While the Second City is great and all—please, go there!—it’s certainly not the only destination worth visiting along the over 10,000 miles of shoreline along the Great Lakes. Here are 10 other Great Lakes destinations for your next weekend adventure.  

As per a recent (and terrifying) study.

In Hindi, we have a saying: “phook phook ke kadam rakhna.” Loosely, it means to take every step cautiously. This is the advice travelers need to follow if they are planning a trip to breathtaking natural wonders that are also crazily dangerous.  Vacation rental search engine Holidu has investigated the most dangerous natural wonders in the world, and the list includes some of the usual suspects. But the study also revealed a few that may surprise you, like Kaaterskill Falls, in the Catskills. It’s not the widest or the longest waterfall, but it is so pretty that admirers have died while taking pictures. The company analyzed the average number of deaths per year compared to the annual visitors and reported accidents or injuries in a year. This is a cautionary list, not a cancel list. Holidu’s Anja Benson said, “Many of the natural wonders on the list offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we’re definitely not telling people not to visit them–quite the opposite in fact! With this research, we wanted to ensure that travelers know which destinations require handling with a little more care, particularly when the results are so surprising!”

In the waters surrounding these bustling seaside settlements, you'll find some of the world's best whale-watching opportunities.

Equipped with massive lungs, and a haunting song that carries miles through the ocean, whales have captured the hearts of philosophers and pop stars alike throughout history. Though many species were driven to the brink of extinction in recent years, nations across the globe have worked in close cooperation to protect these gentle giants from further harm—and in the modern era, there’s a wealth of charming coastal settlements that offer ample opportunity to view them in the wild.

Do you have the heart to cross them?

In cities like New York, San Francisco, London, Mumbai, and Sydney, bridges have become the emblematic stamp. But, of course, they serve a higher purpose. The postcard-worthy structures improve the quality of life for locals by cutting down their commute time, whether on car, on foot, or by rail. These longest bridges in the world are connecting lives, and if you happen to be in one of these cities, it might be worth admiring their craftsmanship, design, and significance. And crossing some of these marvels will count as an adrenaline-pumping adventure. Related: World’s Most Beautiful Bridges